Remembering Reema

On Saturday night, will give the community an opportunity to remember and honor the memory of one of the 32 victims of the shootings at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007.

The is held annually in honor of Reema Samaha, a 2006 graduate of Westfield High School. This year’s show will be held this Saturday, May 28 at 7 p.m. at Westfield High School. Admission is free, but donations are welcome and will go toward The Reema J Samaha Memorial Scholarship, which is granted each year to graduates of Westfield and Herndon high schools who “best exemplify the attributes of Reema J. Samaha,” and the Angel Fund. 

According to their website, The Angel Fund is an organization made up of the “family, friends, neighbors and advocates of Reema Samaha.” Their mission is to delve into the issues that may have contributed to the shooting at Virginia Tech, such as mental illness, campus safety and gun laws, and “seek practical and reasonable solutions to avoid another similar tragedy.”

The cabaret performances will feature a wide variety of artists, including dancers, singers, bands and comedians from Northern Virginia and as far as New York as a tribute to Reema’s passion and talent for comedy and the arts. Throughout her years in high school and at Virginia Tech, Reema was very involved in the arts, dancing with several different groups, acting in school plays and musicals, and participating in WHS’s Improvisation Group.

“While some of the artists knew Reema personally,” said event organizer Ashley Dillard, “even those who did not are connected through their respect and admiration of a beautiful life that was tragically cut short.”

“The cabaret [is a] beautiful way in which we can honor Reema and her family,” said Adrienne Ginter, a member of Virginia Tech’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble, who will be performing Saturday night. “I truly believe that we will always keep Reema's spirit alive through our shared passion for dance.”